Working together through COVID-19

BURLINGTON, ON – Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) joined stakeholders from Ontario’s agriculture community for a virtual roundtable hosted by the Honourable Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

The roundtable provided an opportunity to share updates on the impacts of COVID-19 and is an example of how the sector is working together to mitigate risk and address the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of farmers, staff, processors, and workers in all parts of the Ontario chicken value chain,” said Ed Benjamins, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario. “At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CFO and the entire chicken value chain worked together to develop and implement joint health and safety measures to enhance protection for farmers, processors, and workers in the Ontario chicken industry.”

As the Ontario Government continues to work towards reopening businesses and economic recovery across the province, CFO remains committed to supporting CFO farmer-members and industry stakeholders, and reassuring Ontario consumers that they can count on a strong, steady supply of locally-grown chicken.

“Ontario’s supply management sector is working collectively to manage risk and address challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rob Dougans, President & CEO of Chicken Farmers of Ontario. “CFO is even more focused on risk management, and we have doubled down on our risk management approach, our culture of operational discipline, and risk management governance.”

The Ontario Government and local communities are also recognizing and expressing their appreciation for CFO’s ongoing support of Ontario food banks. In addition to ongoing donations of fresh chicken to local food banks through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program, CFO has also donated $25,000 to Feed Ontario, to help aid in their Emergency Response program.

"Chicken farmers are stepping up and giving what we can to help our neighbours through the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting local food banks is one way we can give back," said Murray Opsteen 1st Vice-Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario and Chair of the CFO Cares Working Group. "During our meetings with Minister Hardeman and MPPs, we heard that these donations are making a positive difference for vulnerable Ontarians, in communities across the province."

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